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Anglers and bait vendors should be aware of a regulation that prohibits taking of minnows or other aquatic bait from portions of Pipestem Creek and the James River.

Because record high flows in the James River in 2011 facilitated the movement of silver carp upstream into North Dakota, it is illegal to take live bait from all of Pipestem Creek below Pipestem Dam, and from the James River between the Jamestown Dam and the South Dakota border, including any tributaries up to the first vehicular bridge or crossing.

A multi-year walleye tagging study that will eventually include thousands of fish was initiated on the Missouri River earlier this spring.

The study area is big, running from Garrison Dam in central North Dakota downstream to Lake Oahe Dam in South Dakota. It’s being conducted by biologists and researchers from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, and South Dakota State University.

The MacLean shooting range located near the MacLean boat ramp south of Bismarck is closed until further notice due to a wildfire on April 26. The area remains a concern with hot, dry conditions expected through the weekend.

In addition, the shooting range at the Wilton Mine Wildlife Management Area remains closed due to wet, muddy conditions.

The public range at Schmidt Bottoms is open.

Schmidt Bottoms is located 13.4 miles south of Mandan on ND Highway 1806.

More than 360 archers competed in the North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament April 12-13 in Bismarck.

Jeff Long, NASP coordinator for the State Game and Fish Department, said the event continues to grow every year. “This year’s turnout was outstanding, especially considering we were on the verge of a nasty storm that hit statewide,” Long said, while noting the number of participants (362) was up 9 percent from last year.

Increases in North Dakota hunting, fishing and boat registration fees recently passed by the state legislature will not take effect until 2014.

Terry Steinwand, director of the State Game and Fish Department, said the current three-year boat registration cycle runs through December, and 2013-14 hunting and fishing licenses are in effect through next March. Therefore, registration fees for boat owners will go up Jan. 1, 2014, while hunters and anglers will see the license increase in April, 2014.

North Dakota’s paddlefish snagging season opens May 1 and is scheduled to continue through the end of the month. However, depending on the overall harvest, an early in-season closure may occur with a 36-hour notice issued by the state Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is prohibiting all open burning, including campfires, until further notice on the Oahe Wildlife Management Area along both sides of the Missouri River.

Even though the area recently received some much-needed moisture, wildlife resource management supervisor Bill Haase said this heavily wooded recreation area is still prone to wildfires prior to spring green-up.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual bighorn sheep survey revealed a minimum of 297 bighorn sheep in western North Dakota. The 2012 count was second highest on record and 5 percent above last year’s survey.

In total, biologists counted 87 rams, 156 ewes and a record 54 lambs. Not included are approximately 30 bighorn sheep in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Big game biologist Brett Wiedmann said the northern badlands population was the highest on record, but the southern badlands herds declined slightly.

The next guide and outfitter written examination is May 11 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. The test is given periodically to anyone interested in becoming a hunting guide or outfitter in the state.

In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations; certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid; and employment by or contract with a licensed hunting outfitter.